Philippines: Fighting between rebels and IS militants in Marawi City kills 25

Event

Fighting between government-backed separatist rebels and Islamic State (IS)-affiliated militants killed at least 25 people on Monday, August 14, as the military battles restore order in besieged Marawi City on the island of Mindanao. The Philippine Army provided artillery support for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a Muslim rebel group with which the government signed a peace agreement, to assist in combatting IS-affiliated groups active in the region.

Authorities hope to liberate Marawi City from IS control within the next couple months, where they believe approximately 20 to 40 militants remain, holding scores of hostages of human shields.

Context

A major armed conflict has been ongoing in Marawi City (Mindanao island) since May 23, following a botched government raid on a hideout sheltering Isnilon Hapilon, a commander of the Abu Sayyaf militant group. Martial law went into effect on the island within hours of the outbreak of fighting.

The Philippine government is currently battling various militant Islamist groups including Islamic State (IS)-affiliated Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the Abu Sayyaf militant group, and the Maute group. Around 246,000 people have been displaced by the fighting. The conflict is part of a wider decades-old insurgency in marginalized Muslim-majority areas of the Philippines. MILF engaged alongside the Philippine Army after August 7, when BIFF attacked two villages in Maguidanao, killing five MILF fighters.

The Philippine legislature voted on July 22 to renew martial law on the island of Mindanao until December 31.

Advice

Individuals are advised to avoid the region surrounding Marawi City, to monitor the situation, and to obey all instructions issued by the local authorities.

As a reminder, most Western governments formally advise against all travel to southwest Mindanao and to the Sulu Archipelago due to terrorist activity, regular clashes between the military and insurgent groups, and the risk of kidnapping by Abu Sayyaf.